Diver (SPÖ)/Emmerling (NEOS): Vienna as a city of solidarity

Red-Pink Progressive Coalition relies on humanitarian aid in Ukraine and necessary measures in the city

Vienna (OTS) – A year ago – on February 24, 2022 – Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began. In crisis situations, close cooperation between cities is particularly important. Because, precisely when people come under pressure, immediate humanitarian aid is also necessary. In the past few months, the red-pink progressive coalition has relied on a wide variety of measures to help the refugees quickly and to enable them to arrive in Vienna unbureaucratically.

“Vienna has shown solidarity with Ukraine since the first day of the Russian war of aggression and has supported the country on the ground with aid deliveries of necessary goods such as emergency vehicles or medical equipment. As a red-pink progressive coalition, we not only rely on on-site help, but also enable people who have fled Ukraine to arrive in Vienna unbureaucratically and create a wide range of support measures such as emergency quarters, first aid places or basic accommodation. We would especially like to thank the many aid organizations that have worked closely with us. Vienna is the city of togetherness and it is therefore clear that we will stick together in times of crisis and show solidarity, ”said SPÖ town hall club chairman Josef Taucher.

Zwtl.: Measures in the field of education

The Progress Coalition immediately sent out the signal that refugees from the Ukraine, above all the children, are welcome in Vienna and that they will receive all the educational support they need. It was important to the City of Vienna that students could seamlessly continue their school education and that kindergarten children found a childcare place.

“Within a very short time, we created dozens of school and kindergarten places for Ukrainian children. To date, around 4,500 Ukrainian students have a place at school in Vienna. We are talking about around 180 school classes that we have set up. And over 1,000 Ukrainian children are in a municipal or private kindergarten in Vienna. We will not tire of continuing to support the people from Ukraine,” promises NEOS Vienna club chairwoman Bettina Emmerling.

Other educational measures included the establishment of a Ukrainian training center with Raiffeisen Centrobank, where Ukrainian high school graduates can complete their high school diploma in Vienna. In the summer of 2022, 1,000 places for German language support were offered at schools in Vienna. For further support, 74 teachers have been hired since the beginning of the war, including pensioners or Ukrainian native speakers.

For NEOS Vienna Europe spokeswoman Dolores Bakos, one year after the start of the attack on Ukraine, one thing is certain: “We all know that Putin also brought the war back to Europe with this brutal attack on Ukraine. We never tire of continuing to support, whether it’s here in Vienna or in Ukraine itself. We never tire of emphasizing that we stand with the Ukrainians, because we will always stand side by side with all of them who fight for and defend our common European values.”

Subtitle: Vienna as a city of togetherness

“As a city of togetherness, we rely on quick help on site, but also in our city, to make the arrival of people who have fled Ukraine as easy and unbureaucratic as possible. Until October, refugees from Ukraine could use public transport in Vienna free of charge. An arrival center was set up in the Sport & Fun Hall in the 2nd district, which helps with orientation in the city. In addition to the advice, medical and psychosocial care was also offered, and from there the way to basic care facilities and other quarters was indicated, ”said integration spokeswoman for the SPÖ Safak Akcay.

Subtitle: Vienna’s actions are characterized by humanity

“As a red-pink progressive coalition, we have taken the necessary steps to absorb refugees from Ukraine as best we can. Around 24,000 displaced persons from Ukraine are currently receiving basic care in Vienna. Around two-thirds of these are women and around 31 percent are children. Only 4 days after the start of the Russian invasion, Vienna has already set up a crisis team to discuss coordinated aid measures such as medical care, accommodation and transport. The arrival center on Althanstraße in the 9th district currently has 350 to 400 visits per week. At the counseling center in the Austria Center, 20 to 30 counseling sessions are currently being held every day. As a human rights city, we live humanity,” said SPÖ human rights spokesman Peter Florianschütz.

With a wave of solidarity, the Viennese supported aid organizations. The Vienna city government also promised the people in Ukraine quick help from the start and also guaranteed it. The interaction of various departments of the City of Vienna, such as the professional fire brigade, parking surveillance or Wiener Linien in cooperation with NGOs, ensured the rapid and necessary implementation of the measures.

For the red-pink progressive coalition in Vienna, supporting the Ukrainian population in their emergency situation is a matter of attitude, said Taucher and Emmerling in unison. (closing sh/mk)